***Official 2022 Royals Season Repository Thread***

[ChiefsCountry]

For all things Royals in 2022. #3 minor league system according to Baseball America. The Bobby Witt era should begin this year. Will Salvy still be the homerun king? How does the glut of infield players work out? Will the young pitchers take the next step?

Free Agents/Trades Acquisitions
Zack Greinke, P
Amir Garrett, P
Taylor Clarke, P

Top 10 Prospects from Baseball America
1. Bobby Witt, SS
2. Asa Lacy, P
3. MJ Melendez, C
4. Nick Pratto, 1B
5. Jackson Kowar, P
6. Kyle Isabel, OF
7. Frank Mozzicato, P
8. Ben Kudrna, P
9. Jonathan Bowlan, P
10. Vinnie Pasquantino, 1B

Duncan's Top Royals Prospects

Spoiler!

1. Bobby Witt, Jr., SS. MLB.
This status lasts about another 4 weeks, but let’s take a moment to appreciate having the top guy in the minor league prospects lists for at least a little while longer. Witt has prodigious ability and the question is really just IF he can meet it. They have not had a prospect like this in my lifetime, and really probably ever. Combine insane raw physical skills (right there with Adalberto Mondesi and Willie Wilson in the ranks right behind Bo Jackson) with unbelievable work ethic, a humble-but-confident nature, and already having shown he can struggle and overcome to achieve big success, and you have the tools for a show-stopping centerpiece. Oh, and throw in the former-player’s kid aspect on it on top of things, and there is every reason to believe he’s going to succeed and succeed big.
2. M.J. Melendez, C, AAA Omaha.
I was early on putting him in this slot last year, and I don’t regret it. The power, the ability to be a good defender behind the dish as well as having the athletic ability to play 3B or LF, too, and you have a really valuable overall piece and FANTASTIC understudy for Salvador Perez.
3. Asa Lacy, LHP. AA Northwest Arkansas
Whoa, let’s get crazy again. Lacy has outstanding stuff. Top of the system. He got hurt and lost his command during COVID times, but appears to be back on track so far this spring. If his command sticks, this is a guy who can move quickly. And his ceiling is really second to nobody in the minor league pitching ranks.
4. Vinnie Pasquantino, 1B. AA Northwest Arkansas
Vinnie starts the season back at AA due to the guy who follows him on the list here. He just hits, folks. I love his combination of contact, loud contact, plate discipline, and lack of strikeouts. The Billy Butler comparisons are annoying (in that I will NEVER refer to this man as Italian Breakfast except in the instance that just occurred), but the Billy Butler comparisons are also fairly apt… if you made Butler a lefthanded hitter, AND improved his body/athleticism from a 20 to a 40, AND if you added that little extra touch of power we all wished Butler could consistently find.
5. Nick Pratto, 1B, AAA Omaha.
Hey, let’s stay at 1B. Pratto has flashy power and I love his batting eye AND his hand-eye coordination. The hair he’s been rocking this spring is also pretty sweet. I slot him just behind Pasquantino simply because I think his bat profile is more volatile. The glove and arm are sweet/plus for 1B, though.
6. Jonathan Bowlan, RHP, AAA Omaha
Bowlan is coming back from Tommy John surgery, and this ranking is assuming that recovering is successful. If it his, you’re talking about a big, consistent SP who throws hard enough and has enough of a repertoire to really make things happen. If the recovery goes well, he may be shuttling to the majors in July to reinforce the rotation.
7. Nick Loftin, CF, AA Omaha.
Loftin is a guy who has really grown on me. I saw him as a quasi super-utility guy when the Royals drafted him, The full-time shift to CF (which means they think he has the speed and the overall defensive ability to handle CF in Kansas City) adds a lot of value here. The ultimate positive offensive upside is similar to peak Whit Merrifield, maybe with a touch more early power.
8. Michael Massey, 2B, AA Northwest Arkansas.
Massey was an absolute revelation last year, hitting for power and average and keeping his K rate down while playing a really strong 2B. He has a very sweet, short lefthanded stroke. This is another aggressive rating, but Massey has proven himself through a tough minor league assignment already, and the arrow is pointed up.
9. Ben Kudrna, RHP, Rookie Ball
Kudrna is a big, physical specimen with a lot of upside and potential. The fastball and slider are already nearly MLB-level in terms of velocity and movement (command needs work). Kudrna is a guy who, with luck, and health, and good development, could ascend to the top of a rotation.
10. Frank Mozzicato, LHP, Rookie Ball.
Mozzicato has a curveball that suggests he has a feel for spin. If you want to dream, you hope that the next 2-3 years turn the 175 he weighed when drafted into a rock-solid 220/225 and carries with it an increase in fastball velocity from 90-91, sitting 87-88, to 96-97, sitting 93-94. You pair his ability to spin the ball (which also suggests he should be able to easily master a sweeper slider) with that type of fastball velo and a changeup he already has a feel for, and it’s an exciting profile.

He has a little more to go in terms of growing into that projectability than Kudrna, which is why he slots right behind him.
11. Alec Marsh, RHP, AA Northwest Arkansas
Marsh missed a lot of 2021 to injury, but the hard-throwing righthander is another guy who could move quickly once the minor league season starts. He’s undeniably got the stuff of a quality major-league pitcher. The question is if he can master enough command to cash it in. This guy is a great example of TINSTAAPP.
12. Angel Zerpa, LHP, AAA Omaha
Zerpa might quickly outperform this slot. His stuff ticked up in 21 and he ended the season making a start in the majors. He’s nice depth to have, and honestly, I’m a big fan of just throwing numbers at pitching. Zerpa definitely helps create the depth you need to generate a top-notch and reliable home-grown rotation.
13. Maikel Garcia, SS, AA Northwest Arkansas
Garcia is a really intriguing hitter, a righthanded hitter who has a nice combination of contact skills and control of the strike zone (this cousin of Alcides Escobar is less savvy with the glove and more savvy at the plate). The Royals protected him for a reason (he’s on the 40-man).
14. Carter Jensen, C, A ??
Jensen is a local product whose bat will probably push him off C (as well as the Royals depth at that spot throughout the organization). This is a future 1B profile, and a nice one. He makes a lot of loud contact and shows an ability to lift the ball. Should be fun to watch this year.
15. Ben Hernandez, RHP, A+ Quad Rivers
Hernandez missed a good part of 2021 but still has that butterfly changeup and a classic pitcher’s profile. He’ll need to find a reliable swing-and-miss secondary to make it in the bigs, but if not, the fastball velocity and changeup should make him a quality high-leverage reliver.
16. Dylan Coleman, RHP, AAA Omaha
Speaking of relievers, Coleman is a hard-throwing righthander who probably spends most of 22 in the Royals’ pen. ½ of the compensation for the Rosenthal trade a few years back, Coleman has a big fastball and nasty breaking ball.
17. Will Klein, RHP, AA Northwest Arkansas
Speaking of relivers, everything I just said about Coleman? Yeah, you can say it about Klein, too. Klein regularly toyed with hitters at high A last year, striking out 121 hitters in just 70 1/3 innings pitched. For those counting at home, that’s a 15.5 K/9 rate. Yep. That’ll play.
18. Anthony Veneziano, LHP, AA Northwest Arkansas
Here’s another big, power arm. Veneziano hasn’t been relegated to bullpen only yet, though. His fastball bumped into the high 90s last year on a starter’s workload. He’s still looking for a changeup, but if he doesn’t find it, you’re looking at a really promising future bullpen fireballer.
19. Erick Pena, OF, A ?
Pena did… not have a strong 2021 full season debut. His struggles look a lot like those of Pratto and Melendez in 2019. Pena has the same type of raw toolkit to work from as those two, with great hands and natural power. He needs to fix a hitch in his swing and calm it down, but so did Melendez. Of this second ten grouping, Pena has the highest upside and could jump right into the top 5 of the org ranks.
20. Darryl Collins, OF, A+
Collins is an international signing out of Europe. I like the hitting package here – good eye and contact skills. He needs to make more loud contact, but if he can, really a nice guy.

Overall takeaways:
This is a system with a lot of depth. We could go another 10-12 deep and still be talking about guys with a good shot to make the majors. The changes to the organization’s approach are bearing fruit, as even less-heralded draftees are stepping forward.

The combination of upside (Witt, Melendez, Lacy), depth, and guys you can dream on is fun. It may not produce quite as much as the 2011 group did, but it does offer a more sustainable system, less reliant on a few big-ticket guys.

[nychief]

Originally Posted by Jerm

The Mets making a mockery of the sport…hilarious.

See...i've come to believe it's the royals and other small market teams making a mockery of the sport. Every team got 30 million dollars free money this year on top of the regular tv and internet revenue...and we spent it on ****ing Jordan Lyles and Ryan Yarborough. It's gross. They make money losing so they don't need to win in any significant way.

On another note...Do you think Bobby Witt is going to playing for the royals when the new stadium opens? I don't. We aren't paying one of the big contracts that buy out FA years... and he'll be shipped out for prospects before then.

There are 600 billionaires in the US, alone.... we can't find 30 of them to run major league baseball teams and actually spend what the players are worth? I guess i'm sick of the poverty model for teams like the Royals.

Phew. Got that off my chest. I love this baseball team but they makes me crazy.

[Ocotillo]

pic.twitter.com/tTOYmS6J8g

— Baseball Images that Precede Unfortunate Events (@UnfortunateMLB) December 21, 2022

[myselff77]

Originally Posted by nychief

See...i've come to believe it's the royals and other small market teams making a mockery of the sport. Every team got 30 million dollars free money this year on top of the regular tv and internet revenue...and we spent it on ****ing Jordan Lyles and Ryan Yarborough. It's gross. They make money losing so they don't need to win in any significant way.

On another note...Do you think Bobby Witt is going to playing for the royals when the new stadium opens? I don't. We aren't paying one of the big contracts that buy out FA years... and he'll be shipped out for prospects before then.

There are 600 billionaires in the US, alone.... we can't find 30 of them to run major league baseball teams and actually spend what the players are worth? I guess i'm sick of the poverty model for teams like the Royals.

Phew. Got that off my chest. I love this baseball team but they makes me crazy.

Totally agree that if BWJ is truly a star, he is much more likely to be traded than sign any mega extension/long term contract with KC. Do you think the Royals would be successful spending BIG money and bringing in the right mix of players to actually win a World Series? I don't have that kind of faith in the front office at this point. I don't mind the philosophy of developing talent and signing one or two guys when ready to compete. It's better than being stuck with a bunch of underachieving expensive players, which I'd suspect would be the result if the Royals actually did spend money.

Spend money and the Royals would turn into a mini version of the Padres. Expensive talent that doesn't achieve. Glad those guys spent the money on Hosmer instead of KC.

[Prison Bitch]

Anyone wanna bring back Jon E Qweddo?

Will be 37 but had nice year for Sux. 6.6 IP per start iver 24

INNINGS EATER

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by Jerm

The Mets making a mockery of the sport…hilarious.

Spending all of that money to finish 3rd in the division.

[Vladimir_Kyrilytch]

Originally Posted by BWillie

https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savan...-r-hitting-mlb

If I am reading these stats right on baseball savant apparently Bobby has terrible range. We all know he's great at running in a straight line but perhaps it has to do with his reflexes, agility and well - concentration. He is the worst possible grade for an infielder on "Outs Above Average". 1 (poorest) to 99 (greatest), and he is a 1. Outs Above Avg which states:

Outs Above Average (OAA) is a range-based metric of skill that shows how many outs a player has saved. Prior to 2020, OAA was an outfield-only metric. But it has been expanded to include infielders. OAA is calculated differently for outfielders and infielders (details below).

Outs Above Average for infielders takes the following factors into account.

• How far the fielder has to go to reach the ball ("the intercept point").
• How much time he has to get there.
• How far he then is from the base the runner is heading to.
• On force plays, how fast the batter is, on average. (A runner's average Sprint Speed is used in the calculation, rather than his Sprint Speed on that particular play. For new players with no data, a league-average -- 27 ft/sec -- score is used; once the player qualifies for the leaderboard, all of his previous plays are re-run.)

I am rooting for the kid but all the metrics seem to indicate he is completely out of his element at SS. Scouts think he COULD be good. I don't place alot of emphasis in scouts once a guy has shown some results at the major league level. I'm not saying he can't be a league avg or slightly above average SS - but it seems it is highly unlikely. Due to his straight line amazing speed and arm and the cavernous Kaufmann Stadium I'll admit I'm very intrigued on how he could perform as an outfielder.

Interesting stuff. I didn't realize BWJ ranked so low per the defensive metrics. But he sure does - in DRS as tabulated by The Fielding Bible, he put up -18. Out of 90 players that played shortstop at least 50 innings in 2022, that ranked him 90, dead-ass last.

Over on fangraphs, I put in a minimum of 750 innings played at shortstop and out of the 24 players that qualify, he ranked 23rd in RngR, which is "range runs", defined as "The number of runs above or below average a fielder is, determined by how the fielder is able to get to balls hit in his vicinity."

Fangraphs has a defensive stat they just call "def", and he was last among the 24 shortstops in that too. That's just UZR with a positional adjustment though, and UZR doesn't account for beginning positioning. For that reason, I pretty much disregard UZR and the stats built on it.

BWJ's defense as per the metrics is more of an issue than I would have guessed. But the sample sizes needed for those stats to be meaningful are so high that Witt wouldn't even qualify - his ~850 innings is the equivalent of 58% of one season's worth of data, and I've read 1 full season is the minimum you need, with 3 full seasons being truly desirable. One 'season' of data is considered 1200 innings.

From a saber website, I found this caveat about defensive stats:

1 year of UZR data is on par with about 50-55 games worth of offense.Would you judge Miguel Cabrera's talents at the plate on just his games from April 1st through June? I wouldn't, and neither would you (or so I hope). So don't do it with defense. Personally, if I have three years of UZR data for a player, I'd rather have four. If I have four years of UZR data, I'd rather have five. I don't believe that you can have enough.

I'm still with duncan that it's too early to consider moving Witt off shortstop, but if it's a full season of ugliness again in 2023, the discussion would be fair to have.

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by Jerm

The Mets making a mockery of the sport…hilarious.

Not sure I buy it that far, their owner is stupid rich, so what if he wants to win? I'll take that over billionaires that penny pinch.

The stuff that really exposed baseball or the small markets of baseball so to speak was during the last negotiation when the players wanted to institute a salary floor and the owners were having no part of that...or seeing a team with similar market size and revenue to the Royals in San Diego spend an incredible amount of money more than the Royals do.

What you're seeing is there are plenty of owners who don't give a **** about winning, the baseball team makes them a bunch of money and they're good with that. The Pirates are a great example of ownership that gives no ****s but profit.

Some owners are exposing their fellow counterparts by showing how much money there really is to spend...

[Titty Meat]

You dumbasses will vote to give 2 billion to the Royala to build a stadium

[tk13]

Yeah but Cohen is in a different bracket than someone like Sherman. If Sherman tried to get in an arms race with Cohen he would get stepped on like a bug.

The other catch is this kind of extreme spending almost never works out. Everybody always talks up San Diego and this year was the first time in AJ Preller's almost 10 years that they've had any kind of success and that still ended in a 4-1 loss in the NLCS.

[poolboy]

Originally Posted by dlphg9

We dont need to be signing any bats this off-season. We have a **** ton of young guys that can play 3rd base and need to see who we got. Why the **** do you want to sign some 30 yr old journeyman that at best will help us win another game or 2. Your stupidity defies logic and common sense and it's clear you just want to find a reason to piss and moan.

We totally need bats....Why even have a team if your not playing to win?
I dont want to lose 100 games again...Why should we have another 5 year plan?
12 million is peanuts for versatile bat

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by tk13

Yeah but Cohen is in a different bracket than someone like Sherman. If Sherman tried to get in an arms race with Cohen he would get stepped on like a bug.

The other catch is this kind of extreme spending almost never works out. Everybody always talks up San Diego and this year was the first time in AJ Preller's almost 10 years that they've had any kind of success and that still ended in a 4-1 loss in the NLCS.

That's fine but they are at the very least trying to win something. They are showing you that a market that isn't huge can spend money.

They resigned their homegrown star and have spent money on FAs. I don't think anyone expects the Royals to be the Mets or the Yankees but they should be able to do what San Diego is doing.

[dlphg9]

Originally Posted by poolboy

We totally need bats....Why even have a team if your not playing to win?
I dont want to lose 100 games again...Why should we have another 5 year plan?
12 million is peanuts for versatile bat

I'd much rather give Nate Eaton, Mondesi, or Massey if you have to a shot at 3rd base. We have multiple young guys that can play 3rd base and we need to find out how they can do. Signing a dude that may not even contribute to wins or at best contributes to 1-2 more wins, but takes ABs and playing time from those young guys is some shit Dayton Moore would do.

How is seeing what our young players can do considered not playing to win? I truly don't give a shit at all if we lose 100 games next year if we give the young guys chances to improve. Who cares if it's 90 losses instead of 100? If we lose 100 games, then we know that the guys we have playing need replaced.

[poolboy]

but we wont replace them...its like endless insanity expecting different results....we been doing this 7 years now with no end in sight...

[tk13]

Originally Posted by Mecca

That's fine but they are at the very least trying to win something. They are showing you that a market that isn't huge can spend money.

They resigned their homegrown star and have spent money on FAs. I don't think anyone expects the Royals to be the Mets or the Yankees but they should be able to do what San Diego is doing.

I really think if people wanted to spend money we should have kept Dayton. If Sherman is going to run this team like Tampa and Cleveland the days of Ian Kennedy or Gil Meche contracts might be over. There was already an article on Royals Review today on how the Royals are boring now. It blew my mind. This is what everyone wanted for us to be a ruthlessly analytical team and it looks like that's what might be happening. It hasn't even been one offseason and people are getting tired of it. It might be time to start taking bets on the first article where someone longs for Dayton because he understood the KC sports market.

For me the real test is if they re-sign any of the guys they develop. Won't be able to afford them all but if they're investing long term in some of the guys they're developing like Vinny or MJ or Singer then all this will be worth it. Jury is out on that though. If they won't do that we're in trouble.

[nychief]

“ If Sherman is going to run this team like Tampa and Cleveland the days of Ian Kennedy or Gil Meche contracts might be over. ”

That is just sad.

I think your point about analytic clubs is valid, we are going to have to be more transactional - turning and burning players - and hit on them.